Will Bills Promote Top Assistant Coach Bobby Babich to Defensive Coordinator?
After moving on from defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier after the 2022 season, the Buffalo Bills opted to go without one in 2023. Head coach Sean McDermott would handle the play-calling duties and defensive line coach Eric Washington would add “assistant head coach” to his résumé.
Buffalo’s defense would be ravaged by injuries – linebacker Matt Milano, defensive tackle DaQuan Jones, and cornerback Tre’Davious White all missed extensive time while several others went down in the playoffs – but would finish the year ranked 11th in expected points added per play and 14th in success rate.
With the success the Bills had, falling oh so short of the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round after an electric stretch to save their season, it’s understandable that teams have their eyes on Buffalo’s staff. Interim offensive coordinator Joe Brady was interviewed to be the Atlanta Falcons head coach. This week, Washington was interviewed by the Chicago Bears to be the defensive coordinator. He obliged and, days later, accepted the position.
© Shawn Dowd, USA TODAY
Washington won’t be calling plays in Chicago, but it’s possible he’ll have a greater influence on the defense, and with “coordinator” attached to his name, it’s a step up the ladder. Subsequently, McDermott has opened up the Bills’ defensive coordinator spot. Few, if any, names make more sense than Buffalo linebacker coach Bobby Babich.
Babich has been on McDermott’s staff since the administration began in 2017. He started as an assistant defensive backs coach, then spent four seasons as the safeties coach before the last two seasons supervising the linebackers. Babich has experience with the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns, as well as the collegiate ranks, holding a handful of assistant jobs.
One of the top assistant coaches in the country, Babich has been a hot name on the coaching carousel. He has interviews set with the Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, and Miami Dolphins. While Buffalo has not formally announced an interview for Babich, they are interviewing former Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Sean Desai on Saturday, per Ian Rapoport.
“Whether it’s as DC calling plays or just the title, I would 100 percent approve and want Bobby Babich to earn that title,” former Bills center Eric Wood posted on social media. “Bobby is one of the smartest coaches I’ve been around. Incredible energy and one of the best developers of talent I’ve witnessed.”
His ability to develop talent was on display this season after those aforementioned injuries. Linebackers Terrel Bernard and Tyrel Dodson helped keep the Bills’ defense afloat as the year progressed.
As things stand, it seems likely Babich will be promoted. Whether that comes in Western New York is yet to be seen, and it may require McDermott to give up play-calling duties. Given his inconsistencies in that role and the heavy interest Babich has garnered, it’s an option that must be considered.
